Features on ZME Science

The frothy history of beer

Bottoms up!

Russia's vaccine is unproven and reckless

It looks like a publicity stunt pandering to an audience rather than a legitimate announcement.

A visual tour of Ceres, where astronomers found evidence of a subsurface ocean

Recent evidence has just made Ceres one of the more interesting places in the solar system.

What is viscosity: through thick and thin

Some fluids don't really like going with the flow.

Yes, there is a helium shortage, and it will affect more than just balloons

You can add helium to the long list of things there's a shortage of.

The futuristic city -- what tomorrow's urban areas may have in store for us

We have all we need to start truly futuristic cities. But they might not look as we picture them.

What is calculus and how to get the hang of it

Derivatives, integrals, fun, and laughs, we have it all here.

What time of day is pressure highest -- and other questions about hypertension

It's one of the most important health checkups.

A Journey through Multiverses, Hidden Dimensions, and Many Worlds

The alternate world, universe, or dimension is a long-standing element of pop-culture. But these concepts, often conflated, have their roots in physics. But which of them are most likely to play host to that most thrilling of tropes — the evil doppelganger?

What is keto: the fat-burning diet

Keto is the fad diet of the decade, but does it really work and is it safe?

What is stress and how it affects our mind and body

An ancient mechanism meant to keep us alive can overwhelm us in today's world.

Japan had the coronavirus under control. Then, it opened up too quickly

The virus was almost nowhere to be found. Now, it's almost everywhere.

What is Medicare and what does it cover?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that pays for a variety of health care expenses. Here's a rundown of the most important things you need to know about Medicare.

Outrageous paper that says 5G "produces viruses" gets shredded by experts

It's shocking that something like this can get published.

What is kratom: an emerging alternative to opioids

Kratom is an opioid-like herbal supplement with potential medical applications, but with many dangerous side effects.

The world's poorest are escaping extreme poverty faster than ever -- but not everything is getting better

Here’s an encouraging thought: extreme poverty has been largely alleviated. In 1820, 94% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty (the equivalent purchasing power of under US $1.9/day). In 1990, the figure had dropped to 34.8%, which is already a big improvement. But since 1990, in just 30 years, the figure has dropped to […]

How a mythological creature is helping Japan against the pandemic

Amabié has become a symbol of Japan's fight against COVID-19.

New AI can write in any style, answer deep questions, and even write poems

We are officially looking through the glass -- this AI is eerily good.

A short wrap-up of the history of falafel

Falafel? I'll take two, please.

Why is pork bad for you -- a look at what the science says

The cons outweigh the pros here.

The hottest planet in the solar system -- and why it's probably not what you think

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the hottest of them all?

Jovian planets -- the giants of solar systems

They're big

Why is the ocean salty?

No matter how salty you get, you'll never be as salty as the ocean

What's the largest desert in the world? (Hint: It's not the Sahara, according to experts)

They cover more than one-fifth of the planet and are on every continent

Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Why not both?

It depends on whether you ask a botanist or a cook.

What's a virus, anyway?

The coronavirus is the buzzword of the year, but what's a virus and how does it spread?

The Mandela effect: how groups of people can all remember the wrong thing

Although popularized by a "paranormal consultant", the effect is real.

What is the neutrino: a hauntingly significant particle

Neutrinos interact so weakly with matter and yet, are of vital importance in the processes that govern the Universe. This is the story of the ghost particle that haunts modern physics.

How old is Hinduism and how it all started

One Hindu proverb says that there are many paths up the mountain, all leading to the same place. Only fools waste their time insisting their path is the right one.

Is our immune system strong enough to tackle the current age?

Is our immune system successful? It depends how you look at it.

The uneasy story of how the Great Auk went extinct

A burning reminder of how mankind can drive species to extinction.

What is Boba and is it actually good for you?

It's delicious -- that's the first thing you need to know.

The most common types of fossils -- finding ancient life preserved in rock

A foray millions of years into the past.

What's deep-sea mining? Risks and challenges of the new industrial frontier

This is a turning point for a gargantuan industry, but the environmental damage could be catastrophic.

The types of stars -- a hot, bright journey through the universe

Stars come in many shapes and flavors.

The four countries hardest hit by the coronavirus are all led by authoritarian leaders

The crisis has laid bare the tendencies of authoritarian leaders and their disregard for human life.

What is cellular respiration: from food to ATP

Cellular respiration allows cells to harvest ATP from glucose. It has three steps called glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

Marie Curie: The Price of Knowledge

Marie Curie's tale is one of sacrifice and suffering for science and of unparalleled dedication to unlocking nature’s secrets.

What would happen to humans exposed to the vacuum of space without a spacesuit?

You won't explode or boil to death -- not before other more immediate threats kill you.

What is entropy, and why is it always increasing?

Room's a mess again? It's physics's fault.

What is inflation: the purchasing power cookie monster

You might have heard that inflation is related to the price of goods and services, but why does it occur and how does it affect our everyday life?

What second wave? The US still hasn't flattened the first one

Data from New York is making US trends look better than they are.

Vietnam might be one of the only coronavirus winners

Not only did the country keep COVID-19 under control, but its economy is doing great.

How to prevent your glasses from fogging when wearing a face mask

Before we dig into the details, here are a few quick fixes to get rid of that extra moisture on your glasses: wet glasses with water, and then lather just a little bit of soap on the lenses (real soap, not the bath cream or stuff like that). The soapy layer should stop fogging; place […]

We should act now to prevent future pandemics – The Black Plague may be next

It was the year 1347 when Genoese traders unwittingly brought a new disease from Asia to the ports of Europe. It was called the Pestilence initially, ultimately being known as the Black Death or the Black Plague. The pandemic lasted for four years until 1351, and killed between 75 and 200 million people. At the […]